The outrage over the recent death of a human-rights activist in Toronto has revealed the selective approach of the Indian state.
Karima Baloch, a.k.a. Karima Mehrab, was the leading figure in the fight for the people of Balochistan province, who are seeking autonomy in Pakistan.
She was living in an exile after being forced to flee from Pakistan, whose army is tormenting residents of Balochistan, one of the country’s four provinces.
While police have ruled out any foul play, activists supporting the rights of the Balochistani people are seeking an in-depth inquiry into the whole episode.
A section of the Indian media owing allegiance to the ruling right-wing Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government, led by Narendra Modi, has gone to the extent of describing her death as a murder. And they are questioning the integrity of the police in Ontario and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
I believe it’s our right to request the Canadian authorities to leave no stone unturned in looking into the circumstances of her death as well the threats she had been facing since moving to the country. We have cooperated with the police and will continue to do so. 1/2
— Hammal Haidar (@HammalHaidar) December 23, 2020
The Indian media has also reported how Baloch treated Modi as her brother and once sent him a rakhi – a band that sisters often tie to the wrists of brothers in Hindu culture.
Baloch was one of those leaders of the movement who see India as a potential ally in their liberation struggle. She wanted him to raise his voice for his Baloch “sisters.”
This was despite the fact that the attacks on religious minorities, especially Muslims, have grown under Modi ever since he became the prime minister in 2014.
Notably, the Modi government has scrapped special status to the only Muslim-dominated state of Kashmir to suppress the struggle of its people for their right to self-determination. The Indian army under him is mistreating residents of Kashmir with impunity in the name of a war on terror.
That the Modi government has also outlawed Canada-based Sikhs for Justice – which is only asking for a referendum on Khalistan, a separate homeland for Sikhs in northern India – further weakens its position on Balochistan.
This only shows the desperation and contradictions of the Balochistani leadership, however justified their fight is. Her sending a rakhi to someone like Modi, who has Muslim blood on his hands, has only complicated the issue.
How can the Balochistani activists be so naïve about the fact that the current Indian regime has allowed Hindu extremists to go after the minorities at will, while at the same time stifling any voice of dissent coming from minority communities?
Sadly, that is the reality of any nationalist movement that starves for resources and help. Even liberation hero Subhash Chander Bose, who fought against the British occupation of India, joined hands with Hitler to undermine British empire.
The controversy over Baloch’s gesture to Modi, apart from the merits of the Balochistan struggle, must not be overlooked.
Indian media and Modi supporters who are strongly advocating for the rights of the people of Balochistan should first set their own house in order before raising fingers at Pakistan. As long as minority rights are not secured in India and people of Kashmir are not treated with respect, India has no moral right to question what happened to Karima Baloch.
Likewise, Pakistan too has no right to challenge India on Kashmir till the time people of Balochistan are no longer forced to live under the boot.
Both these neighbouring countries are merely using patriotism as a refuge to cover up their failures to address the grievances of oppressed minorities who deserve to live with dignity. Let the people of Kashmir and Balochistan decide their own fate.
Both the Pakistani and Indian governments need to be made accountable for the way they are taking advantage of domestic crises in the other’s country and precipitating violence and bloodshed. It is not surprising how the two sides continue to accuse each other of abetting subversive activities within their territories of Balochistan and Kashmir, respectively.
For now, Indian agents and their apologists within the progressive Pakistani or Balochistani community should not be allowed to divert the attention of Canada – by making an issue out of the death of Karima Baloch – from ongoing repression of minorities and political dissidents in Modi’s county.
Gurpreet Singh is cofounder of Radical Desi magazine and Indians Abroad for Pluralist India. This op-ed originally appeared in the Georgia Straight.
